A basin at the end of Oxford Canal was once a thriving centre of trade. But it was filled in fter the Second World War and is now the site of Oxford's Worcester Street car park.

Now British Waterways says there is no physical reason to stop the once-famous landmark being restored to its former glory. And it is calling for a feasibility study, with the costs shared by interested parties.

There was support for the idea at a BW presentation attended by city councillors and the bursar of Nuffield College, which owns the site. Waterways manager Simon Ainley said: "It is a question of whether commercially, it is affordable."

Brian Roberts, chairman of the Oxfordshire branch of the Inland Waterways Association, said allowing ten boats to moor in the basin would be the equivalent of providing a 60-bedroom hotel in the city centre.

He said: "We are not just talking about water. The basin would be surrounded by new buildings overlooking it."

Crucially, the owners of the site, Nuffield College, seem interested. Bursar Gwilym Hughes said: "We have to admit that this does seem to be an attractive proposal from the environmental point of view. "The college certainly needs more information about the feasibility before we take a view." The college presently leases the carpark site to Oxford City Council.

Oxford City Council leader John Tanner said: "It is an imaginative idea which would enhance that part of Oxford. We are in any case reviewing the city's car parking needs.

Story date: Saturday 05 February

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